MOUNTAINEER BASEBALL

Story by Aric Thomas
(2-18-07)

Mountaineers Jump Out To a 6-2 Start

Overcoming ugly baseball, the Eastern Oklahoma State College baseball team earned two, come from behind victories on Saturday.  The Mountaineers (6-2) beat Redlands Community College by scores of 9-8 and 15-8.

In game one, the Mountaineers jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the first inning.  After a double steal by Justin Mitchell and Gunner Glad, Ryan Davis hit a single up the middle to plate both runners.  Through three and a half innings the Mountaineers trailed 6-3 and after five and a half they found themselves behind 8-5.  But in the bottom of the sixth inning they rallied for four runs to take the lead.  The big hit came from Josh Rorex.  With two outs and the bases loaded, Rorex hit a double down the right field line that scored all three runners.  Derek Kiker (1-0) picked up his first win of the season in relief and Levi Rhoades picked up his second save of the year.

With sloppy play in game two, the Mountaineers found themselves trailing 7-0 through three innings.  Six errors led to the seven unearned runs.  However, Eastern regrouped and went on to outscore the Cougars 15-1 the rest of the way.  Justin Mitchell, Ryan Davis, Steve Irvine and Russell Boothe each had two or more hits.  Boothe came up with the big blow in the bottom of the sixth inning.  Trailing 8-7 with two outs and the bases loaded, Boothe drove a double over the right fielder’s head that plated all three runs.  Josh Rorex also contributed with three RBI’s in the game bringing his total for the double header to eight.  Derek Kiker (2-0) and Levi Rhoades (3) picked up the win and save again in relief.  Rhoades tossed three innings without allowing a hit or run and struck out six.

The Mountaineers will take the field again Tuesday, February 20th.  They will play host to Paris Junior College in a double header starting at 12:00 pm.